Liquid expressing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus wherein liquids are expressed from cloth articles by feeding the articles onto the side of a freely rotatable cylinder and therearound and upwardly between the cylinder and an associated roller, the cylinder and the roller are urged toward each other to press the articles therebetween to express the liquid therefrom.

United States Patent [191 Bahnsen 1 Sept. 25, 1973 [5 LIQUID EXPRESSING APPARATUS 253.661 2/1882 Baldwin 68/244 x 2 6, 4 4 2 M 11 [75] Inventor: Erwin B. Bahnsen, Hinsdale, 111. 5 8 6 aya 68/244 [73] Assignee: Steiner American Corporation, Salt FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Lake City, Utah 19,222 12/1899 Switzerland 68/244 [22] Filed: Sept. 28, 1971 Primary ExaminerLeon G. Machlin [2U Appl' 184,573 Attorney-Prangley, Dithmar, Vogel, Sandler &

Related US. Application Data St H d [62] Division of Sci. N0. 879,764, Nov. 25, 1969, Pat. No. 0 an [52] US. Cl 68/248, 38/52 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. D06f 45/00 A pparatus wherein liquids are expressed from cloth ar- [5 8] held of Search 6 1 ticles by feeding the articles onto the side of a freely ro- 100/ 155 tatable cylinder and therearound and upwardly be- 3 162/3 f 15/1 l H tween the cylinder and an associated roller, the cylinder and the roller are urged toward each other to press [561 References cued the articles therebetween to express the liquid'there- UNITED STATES PATENTS f 2,386,203 10/1945 Ficld 118/115 X 19 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures ric article comprising a freely rotatable cylinder ar- I ranged for rotation about a first essentially horizontal axis, a driving roller arranged for rotation about a second essentially horizontal axis in substantially horizontal alignment with and substantially parallel to the first axis, first feed structure for feeding the fabric article onto the cylinder on the side thereof opposite the roller and downwardly and around the cylinder and upwardly between the cylinder and the roller, and motor means for urging the cylinder and the roller toward each other to press the fabric article disposed therebetween for expressing the liquid therefrom, whereby to express liquid from the article downwardly between the portion of the article disposed on the cylinder and the adjacent exposed side of the roller.

A further object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for expressing liquids from a plurality of series of the fabric articles arranged in side-by-side relationship, the apparatus comprising a plurality of freely rotatable cylinders equal in number to the plurality of series of fabric articles and arranged in an end-to-end relationship for rotation about a first essentially horizontal common axis, a first plurality of driving rollers corresponding in number to a first set of alternate ones of the cylinders and arranged for rotation about a second essentially horizontal common axis disposed on one side of the cylinders and in substantial horizontal alignment with and substantially parallel to the first common axis, a second plurality of driving rollers corresponding in number to a second set of alternate ones of the cylinders and arranged for rotation about a third essentially horizontal common axis disposed on the other side of the cylinders and in substantial horizontal alignment with and substantially parallel to the first and second common axis, a first plurality of first feed structures equal in number to the first set of cylinders for feeding the corresponding series of fabric articles respectively onto the cylinders in the first set of cylinders on the sides thereof opposite the associated rollers and downwardly and therearound and upwardly between the cylinders in the first set of the cylinders and the associated rollers, a second plurality of first feed structures equal in number to the second set of cylinders for feeding the corresponding series of fabric articles respectively onto the cylinders in the second set ofcylinders on the sides thereof opposite the associated rollers and downwardly and therearound and upwardly between the cylinders in the second set of cylinders, first motor means for urging the first plurality of driving rollers toward the first set of cylinders to press the fabric articles disposed therebetween for expressing the liquid therefrom, second motor means for urging the second plurality of driving rollers toward the second set of cylinders to press the fabric articles disposed therebetween for expressing the liquid therefrom, whereby to express liquid from the articles downwardly between the portions of the articles disposed on the associated cylinders and adjacent exposed side of the associated roller.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the extractor apparatus of the present invention showing the endto-end relationship of the drums and the relationship of the driven rollers with the drums;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a series of cylinder and roller units arranged as shown in FIG. 1 and adapted to receive ten lanes of fabric articles arranged in a side-byside relationship;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 taken along line 3--3 showing one of an alternate set of drums, the associated driven rollers and the mechanism for feeding the lanes of articles thereto;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 taken along line 4--4 showing one of the other alternate set of drums, the associated driven rollers and the mechanism for feeding the lanes of articles thereto;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view partly in elevation of the freely rotatable drum shown in FIG. 4 taken along line 5--5; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevational view partly in section of the roller and bearing shown in FIG. 4 taken along line 6-6 showing the relationship between the rollers and the bearings disposed therebetween.

There is hereinafter disclosed an extractor system which for the first time provides extracting apparatus for the simultaneous extraction of ten lanes of cloth arranged in side-by-side relationship without the requirement of supporting the extracting equipment at points intermediate the length thereof and which or the first time provides for extraction of the cloth at reduced pressures between a cooperating drum and an associated wringer all to provide for efficient operation of the extractor.

There is disclosed particularly in FIGS. 1 to 6 an extractor system 925. The extractor system providing for expressing liquids from flat work 6750 exiting from a rinser (not shown) as disclosed in my copending patent application Ser. No. 879,764 filed Nov. 25, 1969, for CONTINUOUS WASHING METHOD AND APPA- RATUS, now US Pat. No. 3,698,214, issued Oct. 17,

1972. The flat work 6750 consists of a plurality of continuous sheets of toweling or other pervious cloth arranged in side-by-side relationship to provide the flat work 675. The invention hereinafter disclosed provides for the expression of excess liquid from the flat work 675 all without the problems usually associated with apparatus of this type, particularly the requirement for large, heavy drums, rolls and drive equipment and the attenuated problems of sagging and the improper extraction associated therewith.

The extractor system 925 is provided with a plurality of back-up drums 930 in the form of cylinders arranged in end-to-end relationship mounted for free rotation about a fixed shaft 931, the fixed shaft 931 being suitably connected as at 932 to two spaced-apart upstanding end frames 933 and 934, the end frames provide support for the drums 930 and being connected as hereinafter explained. The cylindrical back-up drums 930 are constructed and arrangedfor free rotation about the fixed horizontally positioned shaft 931 and therefore all have a common axis, the drums 930 including an inner tube 937 and an outer tube 938, the inner tube 937 and the outer tube 938. being connected by two circular spaced apart end plates 939, the circular end plates 939 having a large central aperture therein, the apertures being aligned in use and the plates 939 being suitably secured to the inner and the outer tubes 937 and 938 respectively such as by welding at 941. The inner tube 937 is counter-sunk to provide a shoulder 942 thereon, for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

Disposed within each drum 930 adjacent the outer ends thereof are two bearing assemblies 945 including bearing shoes forming inner races 946 and outer races 947 holding therebetween a plurality of ball bearings 948, the bearing shoes forming the inner races 946 being suitably connected to the fixed shaft 931 while the bearing shoes forming the outer races 947 being suitably connected to the inner tube 937 and abutting at one end thereof the shoulders 942. It is therefore seen that each of the back-up drums 930 is mounted for free rotation about the fixed shaft 931.

A spacer sleeve 950 in the form of a tube is positioned about the shaft 931 at both ends of the drums 930, each sleeve 950 abutting the associated bearing shoe forming an inner ball race 946; each sleeve 950 is suitably secured to the shaft 931 to rotate therewith, the spacer sleeve 950 providing the required spacing therewith of the drum 930 along the shaft 931 to prevent movement of the drum 930 in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the shaft 931.

Although the extractor 925 extracts the rinse liquid from the fabric articles in the form of flat work 675a there may be present a certain amount of wash solution entrained therewith and this wash solution must be prevented from contacting the lubrication provided for the ball bearings 948, otherwise, as in the case of the oribital washer 525, the lubrication will be removed from the bearings 948 and cause them to burn out. To that end, an annularly shaped inner oil seal 953 is suitably secured to the inner tube 937 and the bearing shoe forming the outer ball race 947 at each end of the drum 930, each of the inner oil seals 953 having a lip 954 thereon which abuts the associated spacer sleeve 950 and the bearing shoe forming the inner ball race 946 to prevent lubrication from flowing outward. There is also provided two annularly shaped outer oil seals 956 arranged at either end of the drums 930 and abutting the inner oil seals 953, each of the outer oil seals 956 having a lip 957 thereon abutting the associated spacer sleeve 950, the lips 957 facing outwardly from the drum 930 thereby to prevent the introduction of rinse liquid into the area between the bearing shoes defining the races 946 and 947. As may be seen from the foregoing, there has been provided a plurality of spaced-apart back-up drums 930 in the form of cylinders mounted on a common horizontally disposed axis for free rotation thereabout, the number of drums 930 corresponding to the number of lanes of fabric articles making up the flatwork 675s.

There are also provided a plurality of wringer rollers 960, the number of wringer rollers 960 corresponding to the number of drums 930, the wringer rollers 960 being mounted on two spaced-apart driven shafts 961, the driven shafts 961 being parallel to the fixed shaft 931, the axes of rotation of the driven-shafts 961 being in the same horizontal plane as the axis of the shaft 931. The shafts 961 are respectively journalled in the end plate 933 for rotation therein and respectively pass through apertures (not shown) in end plate 934 to be connected to a drlving mechanism therefor (not shown). The wringer rollers 960 are arranged in two series, each series being comprised of a plurality of rollers in alignment with alternate drums 930. Each of the series of rollers 960 provides alternate of the drums 930 with a corresponding roller 960, and since there are two series of rollers 960 each of the drums 930 is provided with an associated roller 960, adjacent drums 930 having their respective associated roller 960 on opposite sides thereof.

Each roller 960 includes a rubber liner 963 in the form of a tube vulcanized onto a spacer sleeve 965, the spacer sleeve 965 being suitably fastened to the driven shaft 961 for rotation therewith, the spacer sleeve 965 having a longer longitudinal extent than the rubber liner 963. interposed between each two rollers 960 is a bearing assembly 970, the bearing assemblies 970 being approximately equal to the length of the wringer rollers 960 and hence the drums 930, each bearing assembly comprising a sleeve 971, the sleeve 971 being tubular in shape and counter-sunk at both ends thereof to provide two shoulders 972. An inner bearing shoe 976 is suitably secured to the shaft 961 adjacent to either end of the sleeve 971 and an outer bearing shoe 977 is suitably connected to the sleeve 971 adjacent to either end thereof and in registry with the inner shoe 976, the outer shoe 977 abutting the shoulder 972. Between the inner shoe 976 and the outer shoe 977 are disposed a plurality of needle bearings 978 to enable the shaft 961 to rotate within the bearing assemblies 970, thereby to enable the bearing assemblies 970 to remain stationary while the shafts 960 rotate for a purpose hereinafter explained.

The problems attendant to the contact of the lubrication for the ball bearings 948 are also present with respect to the needle bearings 978 and therefore an inner oil seal 983 is provided at either end of the bearing sleeve 971, the inner oil seals 983 being generally annular in shape and have on their inner edges thereof a lip 984, the lips 984 pointing inwardly toward the needle bearings 978 and contacting the spacer sleeve 965 to prevent the escape of lubrication from between the inner oil seals 983. Abutting the inner oil seals 983 are two outer oil seals 986, the outer oil seals 986 being annular in shape and provided on the inner edges thereof with a lip 987. The lip 987 on the outer oil seals 986 also contacts the sleeve 965 but the lips 987 of the outer oil seals 986 are outwardly directed to prevent the introduction of wash solution or rinse liquid into the area between the inner oil seals 983.

The wringer rollers 960 are urged against the drums 930 by a plurality of pressure yokes 990, there being a pressure yoke 990 for each and every wringer roller 960. The pressure yokes 990 are identically constructed and each comprise a pair of horizontally extending spaced-apart legs 991, the legs 991 being interconnected by bight portion 992, the bight portion 992 extending in a direction parallel to the axis of the shaft 961 while the legs 991 are generally transverse to the axis of the shaft 961. The legs 991 are further provided with an arcuate surface 993 at the distal ends thereof, the arcuate surfaces 993 having the same radius of curvature as the surface of the bearing assemblies 970 against which they rest. Since the assemblies 970 do not rotate when the shafts 961 rotate no friction is generated between the arcuate surfaces 993 and the assemblies 970 while pressure is being applied to the rollers 960 as hereinafter explained.

Motor action is provided to the pressure yokes 990 by means of a hydraulic system, the system including a pressure header 995 in the form of a pipe positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shafts 961 and the shaft 931 and further including a plurality of lead-in pipes 996, the number of lead-in pipes 996 from the header 995 corresponding in number to the number of pressure yokes 990 present. Each lead-in 996 provides communication between the header 995 and an individual hydraulic cylinder 997, each hydraulic cylinder 997 being provided with a piston 998 connected to the bight 992 of the pressure yoke 990. Operation of the hydraulic cylinders 997 being in the usual manner to move the pressure yokes 990 toward the freely rotatable drums 930. As may be seen therefore, each series of alternate drums 930 has a corresponding number of wringer rollers 960 urged thereagainst from the same sides, there being an equal number of pressure yokes 990 on each side of the shaft 931, the net sideways pressure therein being zero. A staggered effect is thereby produced in which a first drum 930 having a roller 960 being urged against it from the right, the next adjacent drum 930 having a roller 960 being urged against it from the left, athird adjacent drum having a roller 960 being urged against it from the right and so on, all resulting in a reduced requirement for the strength of the shafts 961 and the shaft 931, since each shaft 961 only has to be sufficiently strong to provide driving torque for half the usual rollers 960, the shaft 961 can be considerably smaller. Likewise, since the shaft 931 does not have to be sufficiently strong to provide torque to the plurality of drums 930 supported thereon but only be sufficiently strong to support the weight of the drums 930, the shaft 931 can be considerably smaller in diameter than usually encountered in systems of this type.

In general, flat work 6750 is introduced onto the drums 930 on the side opposite to the associated roller 960, it being understood that each separate fabric article of toweling is introduced onto a separate drum 930, therefore if there are 10 lanes of toweling arranged in a side-by-side relationship, then the 10 lanes are introduced unto 10 different drums 930. Introduction of the flat work 675c unto the drum as the drum rotates causes the flat work to be carried therearound and thereunder. There is provided a plurality of pad rolls 1005 mounted on shafts 1006, the rolls 1005 being constructed of a soft resilient material and rotating at a speed identical to the speed of rotation of the shafts 961, the rolls 1005 insuring contact of the flat work 675 c with the associated drum 930. As the wet flat work 675 c is introduced unto the side of the associated drum 930 it is affixed principally by capillary action to the surface of the drum 930 which is smooth and carries therearound to pass upwardly between the drum 930 and the associated wringer roll 960 at a nip 1018 formed thereat. The urging of the wringer roll 960 by the associated pressure yoke 990 against the drum 930 provides for the expression of liquid from the wet flat work 675a disposed ther'ebetween thereby to form flat work 675d having liquid expressed therefrom. There is further provided a plurality of doctor blades 1008, each doctor blade 1008 being positioned above the associated drum 930 and roller 960 and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drum 930, each doctor blade 1008 including a biased edge 1009, the biased edge 1009 facing the associated drum 930 and being sufficiently close thereto thereby to peel the flat work 675d from the surface of the drum 930 as the flatwork 675d passes upwardly between the associated drum 930 and roller 960 through the nip 1018. As may be seen, as the wet flat work 675 c passes upwardly between the nip 1018 at the closest most point between the drum 930 and the roller 960, the excess liquid 1019 is expressed therefrom and falls downwardly away from the flat work 675d, the flat work 675d being peeled away from the drum 930 by the doctor blade 1008 and fed thereby onto the surface of the associated roller 960 to be carried therearound and fed therefrom to a dryer 1025.

As may be seen, there has beenprovided an extractor system 925 in which there are two driven shafts 961 each supporting half the total number of driven wringer rollers 960 thereby requiring smaller shafts 961 to provide the torque for rotation of the rollers 960. The shafts 961 therefore which rotate in opposite directions as shown in FIG. 1, in which the rightmost shaft 961 rotates in a clockwise direction, while the leftmost shaft 961 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction, each support alternately spaced rollers 960 and bearings 970, the rollers 960 on each shaft 961 being associated with alternate drums 930, each drum 930 associated with a roller 960 supported by the rightmost shaft 961 rotates in a counterclockwise direction while each drum 930 associated with a roller 960 supported by the leftmost shaft 961 rotates in a clockwise direction.

Because the wet flat work 675a is fed upwardly between the associated drum 930 and the associated 960, there is no puddle formed between the drum and the roller at the nip 1018 as heretofore encountered in the art where the wet article is usually fed between the two rollers from above, thereby causing the aforementioned puddle to form at the nip and fall therethrough thereby requiring excessive amounts of pressure to be applied to the wringer and the roller to express the proper amount of liquid from the wet article. Concurrent with the requirement for an increase in pressure is a requirement for increased size equipment to exert the pressure. Not only must theshafts 961 be of larger size, but in general also the shaft 931, this clearly being undesirable;

As may be seen particularly in FIG. 3, there is shown a first plurality of rollers 960 corresponding in number to a first set of alternate ones of the drums 930 and arranged for rotation about the common shaft 961, whereas FIG. 4 shows the second plurality of rollers 960 corresponding in number to a second set of alternate ones of the cylinders 930 and arranged for rotation about a third horizontal shafts 961, the shafts 961 and the shafts 931 being disposed in essentially horizontal alignment and parallel to each other. As may be seen for the drums 930 rotating in a clockwise direction, the flat work 675c is fed thereon at the right-hand side thereof as viewed in FIG. 3, while for the drums 930 rotating in a counter-clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 4, the flat work 6750 fed thereon is fed from the left-hand side thereof, the flat work 675c in each case being fed on the side of the drum 930 opposite to the associated roller 960. Since the pressure yokes 990 are equal in number and oppositely disposed with respect to the shaft 931, the pressure on the shaft 931 is equalized and therefore the shaft 931 need only be sufficiently large to support the weight of the plurality of drums 930 rotatable thereabout and supported thereby. Since the drums 930 are not power-driven, a slight differential exists in the surface speed relationship between the rollers 960 which are power-driven and the drums 930 and this is due principally to the thickness of the flat work 675. It is therefore necessary to drive the shafts 961 at a slightly higher surface speed than that of the preceeding and following processing equipment corresponding to the conveyor 770d and the conveyor associated with the dryer 1025. A trough (not shown) is provided beneath the drums 930 to collect the extracted solution or water 1019 and directed to a waste disposal or a heat recovery system or to use the extracted water 1019 as a supply to other phases of the entire system.

In the typical industrial extractor unit previously in use, both the drums and the wringer rollers are driven thereby requiring large shafts for each of them, whereas in the present invention by maintaining the drums 930 in a freely rotatable condition, the shaft 931 supporting the drum '930 is not required to be exceedingly large and, therefore, the problems of increased weight are not encountered. In an industrial unit, wherein perhaps ten lanes of toweling are simultaneously processed, the length of the shafts 931 and 961 are such as to encounter bowing if heavy shafts are used thereby to cause liquid in the lanes of toweling in the center of the unit not to be proper extracted.

The following actual example shows the improved action of the present inventien. A 12 inch wide towel, 27 inches long weighs 23 drams in the dry state. Thoroughly saturated, this section of toweling weighs 91 drams. When extracted by the usual method in which the toweling is fed downwardly between driven drum rollers and driven wringer rollers, this same piece of toweling weighs 56 drams after extraction; however, when extracted by the method and apparatus as hereinbefore described, the same section of toweling weighs 45 drams. Therefore, it is clearly seen that 15 percent to percent better extraction is possible with the method and apparatus of the present invention.

It is seen therefore that there has been provided apparatus for expressing liquid from a pluralitY of series of fabric articles such as flat work 675c comprised of lanes of toweling arranged in side-by-side relationship, the apparatus including a plurality of freely rotatable drums 930 equal in number-to the plurality of series of lanes of fabric articles of flat work 6750, the drums 930 being arranged in an end-to-end relationship for rotation about a first essentially horizontal common axis or shaft 931, a first plurality of driving rollers 960 corresponding in number to a first set of alternate ones of the drums 930 and arranged for rotation about a second essentially horizontal common shaft 961 disposed on one side of the drums 930 and in substantial horizontal alignment and substantially parallel to the first shaft 931, a second plurality of rollers 960 corresponding in number to a second set of alternate ones of the drums 930 and arranged for rotation about a third essentially horizontal common shaft 961 disposed on the other side of the rollers 930 and in substantial horizontal alignment and substantially parallel to the first shaft 930 and second shaft 961, a first plurality of feed structures 1005 equal in number to the first set of rollers 930 for feeding the corresponding series of flat work 6750 respectively onto the drums 930 in the first set of drums 930 on the sides thereof opposite the associated rollers 960 and downwardly and therearound and upwardly between the drum 930 in the first set of the drums 930 and the associated rollers 960, a second plurality of first feed structures 1005 equal in number to the second set of drums 930 for feeding the corresponding series of flat work 675c respectively onto the drums 930 in the second set of the drums 930 on the sides thereof opposite the associated rollers 960 and downwardly and therearound and upwardly between the drums 930 in the second set of drums 930, first motor means, in the form of the pressure yokes 990 for urging the first plurality of rollers 960 toward the first set of drums 930 to press the fiat work 6750 disposed therebetween for expressing the liquid 1019 therefrom, second motor means in the form of pressure yokes 990, for urging the second plurality of rollers 960 toward the second set of drums 930 to press the flat work 675 disposed therebetween for expressing the liquid 1019 therefrom, a first plurality of second feed structures equal in number to the first plurality of rollers. 960 for feeding the associated flat work 675d from the first plurality of driving rollers on the sides thereof opposite said first set of drums 930, and a second plurality of second feed structures equal in number to the second plurality of rollers 960 for feeding the associated flat work 675d from the second plurality of rollers 960 on the sides thereof opposite the second set of drums 930, to express liquid 1019 from the flat work 675c downwardly between the portions of the flat work disposed on the associated drums 930 and adjacent exposed side of the associated roller 960.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for expressing liquids from a wet fabric article, comprising a freely rotatable cylinder arranged for rotation about a first essentially horizontal axis, a driving roller arranged for rotation about a second essentially horizontal axis in substantial horizontal alignment with and substantially parallel to said first axis, feed structure including a roller with the periphery thereof adjacent to said cylinder on the side of said cylinder opposite to said driving roller and at an elevation above said driving roller for feeding the fabric article onto the peripheral surface of said cylinder on the slide thereof opposite to said driving roller at an elevation above said driving roller and thereafter for feeding the fabric article downwardly and around said cylinder and upwardly between said cylinder and said driving roller, and motor means for urging said cylinder and said driving roller toward each other to press the fabric article disposed therebetween for expressing the liquid therefrom, whereby to express liquid from the article downwardly between the portion of the article disposed on said cylinder and the adjacent exposed side of said driving roller.

2. Apparatus for expressing liquids from a plurality of series of wet fabric articles arranged in side-by-side relationship, said apparatus comprising a plurality of freely rotatable cylinders equal in number to the plurality of series of fabric articles and arranged in end-toend relation for rotation about a first essentially horizontal common axis, a plurality of driving rollers corresponding in number to said cylinders and arranged for rotation about a second essentially horizontal common axis in substantial horizontal alignment with and substantially parallel to said first axis, a plurality of first feed structures equal in number to said cylinders for feeding the series of fabric articles onto said cylinders on the sides thereof opposite said rollers and dowwardly and around said cylinders and upwardly between said cylinders and said rollers, and motor means for urging said cylinders and said rollers toward each other to press the series of fabric articles disposed therebetween for expressing the liquid therefrom, whereby to express liquid from the series of fabric articles downwardly between the portion of the articles disposed on said cylinders and the adjacent exposed side of said rollers.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein each of said freely rotatable cylinders has a smooth outer surface. 7

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein each of said driving rollers has a resilient outer surface.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, and further comprising means adjacent to said freely rotatable cylinders for maintaining contact between the series of fabric articles fed thereonto by said first feed structures and the surface of said rotatable cylinders.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein said freely rotatable cylinders and said driving rollers are substantially equal in length.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein each of said freely rotatable cylinders and said driving rollers are substantially equal in length and at least as long as the width of one of the series of fabric articles.

8. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, and further comprising second feed structures for feeding the series of fabric articles from said cylinders on the side thereof opposite to said first feed structures onto said rollers.

9. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, and further comprising a plurality of blades positioned above each of said cylinders on the sides thereof opposite to said first feed structures, said blades being adapted to peel the fabric articles having liquid expressed therefrom from the surface of said cylinders and to direct the fabric articles so peeled onto said rollers.

10. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein said motor means is positioned and adapted to urge said rollers against said cylinders while said cylinders remain stationary.

11. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein said motor means include a hydraulically operated yoke positioned and adapted to urge said rollers toward said cylinders.

12. Apparatus for expressing liquids from a plurality of series of wet fabric articles arranged in side-by-side relationship, said apparatus comprising a plurality of freely rotatable cylinders equal in number to the plurality of series of fabric articles and arranged in an end-toend relation for rotation about a first essentially horizontal common axis, a first plurality of driving rollers corresponding in number to a first set of alternate ones of said cylinders and arranged for rotation about a second essentially horizontal common axis disposed on one side of said cylinders and in substantial horizontal alignment with and substantially parallel to said first common axis, a second plurality of driving rollers corresponding in number to a second set of alternate ones of said cylinders and arranged for rotation about a third essentially horizontal common axis disposed on the other side of said cylinders and in substantial horizontal alignment with and substantially parallel'to said first and second common axis, a first plurality of first feed structures equal in number to said first set of cylinders for feeding the corresponding series of fabric articles respectively onto the cylinders in said first set of cylin ders on the sides thereof opposite the associated rollers ancl downwardly and therearound and upwardly between the cylinders in said first set of said cylinders and the associated rollers, a second plurality of first feed structures equal in number to said second set of cylinders for feeding the corresponding series of fabric articles respectively onto the cylinders in said second et of cylinders on the sides thereof opposite the associated rollers and downwardly and therearound and upwardly between the cylinders in said second set of cylinders and the associated rollers, first motor means for urging said first plurality of driving rollers toward said first set of cylinders to press the fabric articles disposed therebetween for expressing the liquid therefrom, second motor means for urging said second plurality of driving rollers toward said second set of cylinders to press the fabric articles disposed therebetween for expressing the liquid therefrom, whereby to express liquid from the articles downwardly between the portions of the articles disposed on the associated cylinders and adjacent exposed side of the associated roller.

13. The apparatus set forth in claim 12, wherein the surface of said freely rotatable cylinders is smooth and relatively non-resilient.

14. The apparatus set forth in claim 12, wherein the surface of said driving rollers is resilient.

15. The apparatus set forth in claim 12, wherein said first plurality of driving rollers are adapted to rotate in a clockwise direction and said second plurality of driving rollers are adapted to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction.

16. The apparatus set forth in claim 12, wherein said freely rotatable cylinders and said driving rollers are substantially equal in length.

17. The apparatus set forth in claim 12, wherein each of said driving rollers is spaced apart along the associated common axis a distance equal to the length of one of said rotatable cylinders. H

18. The apparatus set forth in claim 12, and further comprising a first pluraltiy of second feed structures equal in number to said first plurality of driving rollers for feeding the associated fabric articles from said first set of cylinders onto said first plurality of driving rollers, and a second plurality of second feed structures equal in number to said second plurality of driving rollers for feeding the associated fabric articles from said second set of cylinders onto said second plurality of driving rollers.

19. The apparatus set forth in claim 12, and further comprising a first plurality of blades equal in number to said first plurality of driving rollers for separating the associated fabric articles from said first set of cylinders and feeding the associated fabric articles. onto the associated driving roller, and a second plurality of blades equal in number to said second plurality of driving rollers for separating the associated fabric articles from said second set of cylinders and feeding the separated 

1. Apparatus for expressing liquids from a wet fabric article, comprising a freely rotatable cylinder arranged for rotation about a first essEntially horizontal axis, a driving roller arranged for rotation about a second essentially horizontal axis in substantial horizontal alignment with and substantially parallel to said first axis, feed structure including a roller with the periphery thereof adjacent to said cylinder on the side of said cylinder opposite to said driving roller and at an elevation above said driving roller for feeding the fabric article onto the peripheral surface of said cylinder on the slide thereof opposite to said driving roller at an elevation above said driving roller and thereafter for feeding the fabric article downwardly and around said cylinder and upwardly between said cylinder and said driving roller, and motor means for urging said cylinder and said driving roller toward each other to press the fabric article disposed therebetween for expressing the liquid therefrom, whereby to express liquid from the article downwardly between the portion of the article disposed on said cylinder and the adjacent exposed side of said driving roller.
 2. Apparatus for expressing liquids from a plurality of series of wet fabric articles arranged in side-by-side relationship, said apparatus comprising a plurality of freely rotatable cylinders equal in number to the plurality of series of fabric articles and arranged in end-to-end relation for rotation about a first essentially horizontal common axis, a plurality of driving rollers corresponding in number to said cylinders and arranged for rotation about a second essentially horizontal common axis in substantial horizontal alignment with and substantially parallel to said first axis, a plurality of first feed structures equal in number to said cylinders for feeding the series of fabric articles onto said cylinders on the sides thereof opposite said rollers and dowwardly and around said cylinders and upwardly between said cylinders and said rollers, and motor means for urging said cylinders and said rollers toward each other to press the series of fabric articles disposed therebetween for expressing the liquid therefrom, whereby to express liquid from the series of fabric articles downwardly between the portion of the articles disposed on said cylinders and the adjacent exposed side of said rollers.
 3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein each of said freely rotatable cylinders has a smooth outer surface.
 4. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein each of said driving rollers has a resilient outer surface.
 5. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, and further comprising means adjacent to said freely rotatable cylinders for maintaining contact between the series of fabric articles fed thereonto by said first feed structures and the surface of said rotatable cylinders.
 6. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein said freely rotatable cylinders and said driving rollers are substantially equal in length.
 7. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein each of said freely rotatable cylinders and said driving rollers are substantially equal in length and at least as long as the width of one of the series of fabric articles.
 8. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, and further comprising second feed structures for feeding the series of fabric articles from said cylinders on the side thereof opposite to said first feed structures onto said rollers.
 9. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, and further comprising a plurality of blades positioned above each of said cylinders on the sides thereof opposite to said first feed structures, said blades being adapted to peel the fabric articles having liquid expressed therefrom from the surface of said cylinders and to direct the fabric articles so peeled onto said rollers.
 10. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein said motor means is positioned and adapted to urge said rollers against said cylinders while said cylinders remain stationary.
 11. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein said motor means include a hydraulically operated yoke positioned and adapted to urge said rollErs toward said cylinders.
 12. Apparatus for expressing liquids from a plurality of series of wet fabric articles arranged in side-by-side relationship, said apparatus comprising a plurality of freely rotatable cylinders equal in number to the plurality of series of fabric articles and arranged in an end-to-end relation for rotation about a first essentially horizontal common axis, a first plurality of driving rollers corresponding in number to a first set of alternate ones of said cylinders and arranged for rotation about a second essentially horizontal common axis disposed on one side of said cylinders and in substantial horizontal alignment with and substantially parallel to said first common axis, a second plurality of driving rollers corresponding in number to a second set of alternate ones of said cylinders and arranged for rotation about a third essentially horizontal common axis disposed on the other side of said cylinders and in substantial horizontal alignment with and substantially parallel to said first and second common axis, a first plurality of first feed structures equal in number to said first set of cylinders for feeding the corresponding series of fabric articles respectively onto the cylinders in said first set of cylinders on the sides thereof opposite the associated rollers and downwardly and therearound and upwardly between the cylinders in said first set of said cylinders and the associated rollers, a second plurality of first feed structures equal in number to said second set of cylinders for feeding the corresponding series of fabric articles respectively onto the cylinders in said second et of cylinders on the sides thereof opposite the associated rollers and downwardly and therearound and upwardly between the cylinders in said second set of cylinders and the associated rollers, first motor means for urging said first plurality of driving rollers toward said first set of cylinders to press the fabric articles disposed therebetween for expressing the liquid therefrom, second motor means for urging said second plurality of driving rollers toward said second set of cylinders to press the fabric articles disposed therebetween for expressing the liquid therefrom, whereby to express liquid from the articles downwardly between the portions of the articles disposed on the associated cylinders and adjacent exposed side of the associated roller.
 13. The apparatus set forth in claim 12, wherein the surface of said freely rotatable cylinders is smooth and relatively non-resilient.
 14. The apparatus set forth in claim 12, wherein the surface of said driving rollers is resilient.
 15. The apparatus set forth in claim 12, wherein said first plurality of driving rollers are adapted to rotate in a clockwise direction and said second plurality of driving rollers are adapted to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction.
 16. The apparatus set forth in claim 12, wherein said freely rotatable cylinders and said driving rollers are substantially equal in length.
 17. The apparatus set forth in claim 12, wherein each of said driving rollers is spaced apart along the associated common axis a distance equal to the length of one of said rotatable cylinders.
 18. The apparatus set forth in claim 12, and further comprising a first pluraltiy of second feed structures equal in number to said first plurality of driving rollers for feeding the associated fabric articles from said first set of cylinders onto said first plurality of driving rollers, and a second plurality of second feed structures equal in number to said second plurality of driving rollers for feeding the associated fabric articles from said second set of cylinders onto said second plurality of driving rollers.
 19. The apparatus set forth in claim 12, and further comprising a first plurality of blades equal in number to said first plurality of driving rollers for separating the associated fabric articles from said first set of cylinders and feeding the associated fabric articles onto the associateD driving roller, and a second plurality of blades equal in number to said second plurality of driving rollers for separating the associated fabric articles from said second set of cylinders and feeding the separated fabric articles onto the associated driving rollers. 